RAGING FATE (Hiatus)

CHAPTER 6

LOTUS

His desire to pee had vanished as a result of his curiosity, and he jumped up on the other roof, only to land on someone else's house.

He unconsciously forgot about his elder brother, who was only eight meters away, occupied and distracted by the exquisite design of the hall way.

Lan Zhan fixed his gaze straight ahead, then noticed an unfamiliar figure facing him back. He jumped down quietly and stride silently, intending to touch the individual's left shoulder and turn him in front of him.

But before he could extend his right hand any further, the person stopped singing, flinched, and leapt up at the tree branch at breakneck speed, leaving him stunned and blinking in surprise, his hand hanging in the air.

"Who are you, and why are you here?"

Lan Zhan, who was still adjusting his trance, brought his hand back to his side and looked up at the person standing like a feather in one of the branch trees.

He didn't respond, instead walking closer to the tree, intending to join the person up there. But before he could do anything, the person interrupted him by shouting.

"STOP RIGHT THERE! Don't come any closer!"

Lan Zhan abruptly came to a halt, his gaze fixed on the person above him. Observing the person's back features, he notices that he's taller than him and that the boy appears to be younger.

His hair was knee-length and oddly white; the moonlight made it shine and sparkle, almost like a precocious and delicate white silk, which caused the other person to felt itch on his hand.

Lan Zhan wanted to stroke that strange but beautiful hair, he wanted to get closer and see more of the person in front of him. He felt an uncontrollable urge and itch of stubbornness.

Lan Zhan feet unconsciously leapt him up to the tree, startling the person who is now standing next to him, terrified.

"You!" the frightened boy exclaimed. Lan Zhan finally saw him in person, but he was speechless. His mind was unable to think clearly or form words to speak to him.

He was awestruck. Strangely, the young child's features bring his heartbeat to familiarity and a sense of satisfaction.

"Y-you..." Lan Zhan blurted out, confused. His heart pounding madly as he felt a strange comfort towards him, as if they had already met.

He could feel something inside him waking up. His ice heart was slowly melting, he had never felt like this before, what was going on?

While Lan Zhan continue on processing his emotions and thoughts, the child beside him only looks at him with fear in his eyes. Someone noticed him? Someone discovered him!

Wei panics as his nervous eyes scan the young boy's clothing and recognize it.

'Clouds? Wait! He comes from the cloud clan! 'He thought, his heart racing with worry. No, he must leave immediately!

"I HAVE TO GO!" Wei exclaimed, leaping up, but Lan Zhan grabbed his left arms before he could leave. The boy was shocked and glared at him with a furious expression.

"You! Let go! What are you thinking? I said let go!" Wei cries and protests as he struggles through Lan Zhan's stronghold.

Wei attempted to use his power to make the other person release him, but a flash of his mother snapped through him like a curse.

"You must not use your power, okay? Your body is fragile, and if you do, you will become ill for one month, understand?"

Wei clicked his tongue in frustration as he felt the other person's grip become stronger and tighter with each passing second.

"Yah! Your grip is not a joke; adjust it slightly!" Wei cursed at the other, his eyes as sharp as a needle as he concentrated on remembering the person's facial features, then a thought of his father slipped through him like a magnet.

Wei's body shuddered and shivered from thunder of worry and fright.

'My father, father... he will, no.'

Wei rashly grabbed the other person's hand, which is still firmly gripping his left arm, and says, his eyes filled with nervousness and panic.

"Whoever you are, please don't tell anyone you saw me," Wei urged, his hands trembling in fear as tears of despair gathered in his eyes and fell to his cheeks like a toxic poison, his body tingling with fear with each drop.

Lan Zhan was taken aback by his abrupt actions and was startled to see him cry in desperation in front of him, which caused him to immediately let go of Wei's arms, blinking and still processing what was going on.

"Please... my father will be angry at me," Wei continued, leaving Lan Zhan confused and sighing.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry; I'm just curious... why are you here alone?" Lan Zhan inquired earnestly, taking in all of Wei's words one by one.

"I'm not allowed to go out or else," Wei answered as he slowed down his crying.

"Or else what?" Lan Zhan asked. This was the first time he was concerned about other people and he felt different.

"Or else my father would get mad at me and punish me," Wei explained.

"Who is your father?" Lan Zhan inquired, his right hand unconsciously reaching for Wei's face to caress and wipe away the tears that had escaped his eyes.

Wei flinches at his touch at first, but quickly adjusts. He was about to respond when he heard Lan Zhan's elder brother's voice calling for him from the other side of the wall.

'Tsk! What bad timing,' Lan Zhan grumbled and frowned, but he quickly adjusted his expression as he looked at Wei, gently touching the other's face and smiling warmly.

He wasn't sure why, but this was the first time he smiled at someone he barely knew. Since his mother's death, his brother and grandfather have rarely seen him smile or express emotion openly.

"You said no one should see you, right? My brother is coming here, he's looking for me; you should leave now."

As he said those words, he sneakily held Wei's waist tight with his left hand and leapt them down from the tree.

Wei thanked him and was about to leave when Lan Zhan stopped him again, this time clutching his left arms and asking desperately.

"Would you mind telling me your name before you leave?"

"My name is Wei Wuxi—" Wei couldn't finish when he heard Lan Zhan's brother's voice approaching them.

Lan Zhan immediately let go of Wei's arms, and the others flew out the other side of the wall like a breeze. Lan Xichen arrived at his location shortly after Wei left.

"Wangji! Oh, thank god you're okay. You made me worried. Why are you here? This place is off limits," XiChen panted, his eyes filled with relief and worry as he strides over to his younger brother, who now wore a straight face. Lan Zhan looked at him calmly and replied.

"I just wanted to check something; I'm sorry for bothering you, brother." He apologized, and his elder brother simply sighed and patted his shoulder, a considerate smile on his face.

"Let's just go back. Grandpa must be worried now," Lan XiChen replied, striding back to their respective rooms. Lan Zhan turned back before they left, then spoke quietly into his mouth.

"Until next time, Wei."

To be continued...